Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601B accident near Elko, Nevada, July 1, 1983
On July 1, 1983 at about 10:32 pm local time, a Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601B, registered N601MM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1983 · about 10:32 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601B AEROSTAR 6
- Registration
- N601MM · registry record · serial 61-0005-22
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENROUTE AT 14,000 FT MSL THE PLT OBSERVED THE RIGHT ENG OIL PRESS GAGE DECREASE TO ZERO. THE PLT SHUT DOWN THE RIGHT ENG& RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS TO ELKO MUNI ARPT. AT 6,000 FT THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL-OFF THE ACFT BUT THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND THE ACFT GEAR UP IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE RIGHT ENG HAD RUN OUT OF OIL DUE TO A CHAFED HOLE IN AN OIL COOLER LINE. THE LEFT ENG FORWARD UPPER OIL COOLER HOSE ALSO EXHIBITED EXTENSIVE CHAFING SIGNATURES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 3,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1982; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-P1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SUN Hailey ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from EKO, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.